Step actuated noise maker and means for attachment to a shoe

ABSTRACT

A step actuated noise maker including a one-piece housing having a closed interior with a cricket being located in said interior. Means is provided for attaching the housing to the shoe and a movable button projects from the housing for actuating said cricket when said step actuated noisemaker is brought in contact with the ground.

United States Patent 1191 Noble Apr. 22, 1975 v [5 STEP ACTUATED NOISE MAKER AND 3.317.097 5/1967 Giordano 220/31 s MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT o A SHOE 3.432.964 3/l969 Visitacion .1 46/175 R X 3.612.233 l0/l97l Nagpal i 220/3] S Inventor: S d ob e. t Orange. J 3.757466 3/1973 SII'ClZlkOS.... 46/175 R Assignaez g p New York N'YI R20.472 8/1937 Land] 36/15 AC [22] Filed: Fri/nary li.\'a7711'71e/'F. Barry Shay 21 Appl. NO.Z 422,786

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 46/175 R; 36/15 AC 51 1111. C1 A63h 5/00 A step i [58] Field of Search 8 AC 7 5 AF housing having a closed mterior with a cr1cket being 3 R i located in said interior. Means is provided for attach- Lyn/DIG 1 6 ing the housing to the shoe and a movable button projects from the housing for actuating said cricket [56] References Cited when said step actuated noisemaker is brought in UNITED STATES PATENTS contact with the ground.

2.205.344 6/1940 Carrara 36/25 AC 3 Claims. 4 Drawing Figures 3,094,808 6/1963 Mcdlock 46/[75 R STEP ACTUATED NOISE MAKER AND MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SHOE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Step actuated noisemaker 2. Description of the Prior Art It is recognized by toy manufacturers that toys which include noisemakers have substantial enjoyment value for young children. As a consequence thereof, there are many different toys presently sold which include noisemakers. Recently a noisemaker was designed so as to be step actuated. This noisemaker was intended to be secured to the underside of a childs shoe adjacent the breast of the shoe heel. The noisemaker was dimensioned so that when the sole and heel rest were placed on the ground substantially the entire noisemaker was within the space bounded by the ground, the breast of the heel, the sole arch and the forward part of the sole. When this occurred, the noisemaker was actuated and produced a noise.

This type of prior art step actuated noisemaker inwas not designed so as to have a long working life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 1. Purposes of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shoe borne step actuated noisemaker.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved shoe borne step actuated noisemaker which when fastened to a childs shoe will produce a noise each time the shoe is brought in contact with the ground.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe borne step actuated noise maker which can be easily secured to a childs shoe.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe borne step actuated noisemaker which is designed to have a long life.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe borne step actuated noisemaker which can be economically made.

Other objects of the present invention in part will be obvious and in part will be hereinafter pointed out.

2. Brief Description of the Invention According to the present invention, the foregoing as well as other objects are achieved by a shoe borne step actuated noisemaker which includes a housing consisting of a first section and a second section. Said first and second sections are made of plastic and a living hinge extends therebetween so that each section is hingedly secured to the other section. The first housing section includes an interior and has a raised portion. Extending through said raised portion is an opening and extending outwardly therefrom is a cricket actuator.

Located in the interior of said first housing section is a cricket having an actuating leaf which bears against the inner end of the cricket actuator. The second housing section seals the first housing section and maintains the cricket in the aforesaid position.

Means is provided for permanently fixing said first housing section to said second housing section.

A securing means is provided. Elastic material is secured to said second housing section and to said securing means.

In use, the securing means is positioned on top of a childs shoe and the second housing section is in contact with the bottom of the child s shoe. Each time the child elevates his foot and places the same in contact with the ground the cricket actuator flexes the cricket actuating leaf and a noise is produced.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the step actuated noisemaker hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings wherein like parts in the different figures are identified by the same reference numeral:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a step actuated noisemaker according to the present invention with the securing means inverted;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partially broken, showing the step actuated noisemaker of the present invention secured to a shoe; I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view looking down at the unfolded open housing sections of the step actuated noisemaker of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings a step actuated noisemaker 10 of the present invention is shown and includes a housing 12 formed from housing sections 14 and 16. Housing sections 14 and 16 are made from a plastic material and can be injection molded. A living hinge 18 extends between housing sections 14 and 16 so that said housing sections are pivotally attached to each other. Housing section 14 is substantially flat and includes ears 20 and 22 which extend outwardly from opposed portions thereof. Ears 20 and 22 are identical to each other as well as being in registry with each other. A slot 24 extends through ear 20 as does a hole 25 and an identical slot 26 extends through ear 22. A hole 27 extends through ear 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, located on under surface 28 of housing section 14 are parallel elongated rails 30 and 32. Rails 30 and 32 are identical to each other as well as being in registry with each other. A pin 34 (shown in solid in FIG. 4) extends upwardly from under surface 28 adjacent the inside end of rail 32. Pin 34 is adjacent living hinge 18. A further pin 36 (also shown in solid in FIG. 4) is located adjacent the inside end of rail 30 and adjacent living hinge 18. The function of pins 34 and 36 and rails 30 and 32 will hereinafter be described. Pins 34 and 36 would not normally be visible in FIG. 4 being covered by a cricket (hereinafter described) for the position of the cricket shown in FIG. 4.

A cricket catch 29 is located between rails 30 and 32 spaced from hinge 18.

Housing section 16 includes side walls 38, 40, 42 and 44. Living hinge 18 extends from side wall 4 to housing section 14. Walls 38 and 42 are parallel to each other and in registry while being perpendicular to walls 40 and 44. In a similar fashion, walls 40 and 44 are parallel and in registry with each other. Extending outwardly from wall 42 adjacent wall 40 is an ear 46 having a hole 47 extending therethrough and extending outwardly from wall 38 adjacent wall 40 is an ear 48 having a hole 49 extending therethrough. Ears 46 and 48 are in registry with each other and identical and serve a function that will hereinafter be described.

A ledge 50 extends from wall 44 between walls 38 and 42 towards wall 40. Ledge 50 is located intermediate the upper and lower portions of walls 38 and 42. A vertical wall 52 extends from ledge 50 to a bottom wall 54 which extends to the bottom portion of wall 40 for the orientation shown in FIG. 2. A hole 56 extends through wall 54 adjacent wall 40 and is symmetrically positioned with respect to walls 38 and 42. A cricket gripping nub 41 extends away from wall 42 on ledge 50 and a similar nub 39 extends away from wall 38.

A button 58 is provided and includes a section 60 which extends through hole 56. Located in the interior of housing section 16 is a button rim 62 which is larger than hole 56. Rim 62 includes parallel edges 64 and 66 with edge 66 immediately adjacent the inside surface of wall 40. Rim 62 includes opposed curved edges 68 and 70 with curved edge 68 adjacent the inside surface of wall 38 and curved edge 70 adjacent the inside surface of wall 42. Located on rim 62 adjacent curved edge 68 is a raised section 72 and located thereon is a nub 74. A similar raised section 76 is located adjacent curved edge 70 and located on raised section 76 is a nub 78. Nubs 74 and 78 are in registry with each other.

A cricket 82 includes a leaf 84 which is substantially flat and a rounded leaf mount 86 to which leaf 84 is secured. Cricket 82 is conventional in structure and the details thereof per se do not perform a part of the present invention. When assembled, the rear of cricket 82 abuts wall 44 and rests on ledge 50 sandwiched between nubs 39 and 41. Pins 34 and 36 flank the rear curved part of leaf mount 86. Rails 30 and 32 flank leaf mount 86 to prevent lateral movement. Catch 29 comes over the forward part of leaf mount 86. A portion of cricket leaf 84 rests on raised sections 72 and 76 and abuts nubs 74 and 78.

Housing sections 14 and 16 are positioned so that ears 22 and 24, respectively, overlay ears 48 and 46. When this occurs, holes 27 and 49 are in registry with each other as are holes 25 and 47. Rivets 88 and 90 extend, respectively, through holes 27, 49 and holes 25, 46 to secure the housing sections closed as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

A noise actuator securing means 92 (shown inverted in FIG. 1) consists of a circular plate 94. Attached to circular plate 94 is a projection 96 which extends upwardly to a plate 98 which is larger than said projection. Extending through projection 96 are holes 100 and 102. An L-shaped catch 104 extends upwardly from plate 94 at the periphery thereof. A fabric covered rubberband 106 is formed into a loop by a knot with two sections of said loop passing through the slot in ear 24 and the slot in car 22 and over the outside surface of housing section 14. One part of the fabric covered rubberband passes through opening 100 and another part through opening 102 with said fabric covered rubberband being looped about the portion of projection 96 adjacent catch 104 with the knot received in a receptacle in projection 96. A portion of the rubberband is looped about catch 104 below the part thereof parallel to plate 94.

In use, the step actuated noisemaker is positioned as shown in FIG. 2, to wit, plate 98 is placed in contact with the upperpart of a childs shoe and housing section 14 in contact with the bottom of the shoe sole. Plate 94 is spaced above the shoe. Fabric covered rubberband 104 being under tension, maintains the step actuated noisemaker in the aforesaid position. Each time the child takes a step, button 60 flexes leaf 84 of cricket 82 and a noise is produced. When the childs foot is off the ground the resiliency of leaf 84 causes button 60 to be extended. The button, upon the child stepping on the ground, moves into the interior of housing 12'until the outside surface of the button is flush with the outside surface of wall 54. The button cannot be inserted into the interior of housing 12 so as to destroy any of the components thereof.

It thus will be seen that there is provided a step actuated noisemaker which achieves the various objects of the invention and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. An actuateable noisemaker which can be selectively secured to a shoe so as to be step actuated comprising a housing, said housing including a first section and a second section, said first and second housing sections being hinged to each other, said first and second housing sections being secured to each other so as to define a closed interior, a cricket, said cricket including a leaf mount and a leaf, said cricket being located in said closed interior, means integral with said second housing section for preventing said cricket from freely moving in said interior, said second housing section including a wall, an opening extending through said wall, a button actuator, said button actuator including a first section and a second section, said first section of said button actuator being located in said interior and abutting said leaf and having a larger cross section than said button actuator second section, the second section of said button actuator extending through said opening and being external of said interior, a securing means adapted to be placed on the upper portion of a shoe, elastic retaining means attached to said securing means and attached to said housing whereby said securing means can be placed on the upper portion of a shoe and the housing on the sole of the shoe and as the shoe comes in successive contact with the ground the button actuator is depressed causing the cricket leaf to flex and a series of sounds to be emitted.

2. An actuateable noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes two plates which are held parallel to each other by a separating means, said elastic retaining means selectively securable to said separating means.

3. An actuateable noisemaker according to claim 2 wherein said separating means includes a first member and a second member, each of said members extending between said plates, and said elastic retaining means being secured to said first member and said second member. 

1. An actuateable noisemaker which can be selectively secured to a shoe so as to be step actuated comprising a housing, said housing including a first section and a second section, said first and second housing sections being hinged to each other, said first and second housing sections being secured to each other so as to define a closed interior, a cricket, said cricket including a leaf mount and a leaf, said cricket being located in said closed interior, means integral with said second housing section for preventing said cricket from freely moving in said interior, said second housing section including a wall, an opening extending through said wall, a button actuator, said button actuator including a first section and a second section, said first section of said button actuator being located in said interior and abutting said leaf and having a larger cross section than said button actuator second section, the second section of said button actuator extending through said opening and being external of said interior, a securing means adapted to be placed on the upper portion of a shoe, elastic retaining means attached to said securing means and attached to said housing whereby said securing means can be placed on the upper portion of a shoe and the housing on the sole of the shoe and as the shoe comes in successive contact with the ground the button actuator is depressed causing the cricket leaf to flex and a series of sounds to be emitted.
 1. An actuateable noisemaker which can be selectively secured to a shoe so as to be step actuated comprising a housing, said housing including a first section and a second section, said first and second housing sections being hinged to each other, said first and second housing sections being secured to each other so as to define a closed interior, a cricket, said cricket including a leaf mount and a leaf, said cricket being located in said closed interior, means integral with said second housing section for preventing said cricket from freely moving in said interior, said second housing section including a wall, an opening extending through said wall, a button actuator, said button actuator including a first section and a second section, said first section of said button actuator being located in said interior and abutting said leaf and having a larger cross section than said button actuator second section, the second section of said button actuator extending through said opening and being external of said interior, a securing means adapted to be placed on the upper portion of a shoe, elastic retaining means attached to said securing means and attached to said housing whereby said securing means can be placed on the upper portion of a shoe and the housing on the sole of the shoe and as the shoe comes in successive contact with the ground the button actuator is depressed causing the cricket leaf to flex and a series of sounds to be emitted.
 2. An actuateable noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes two plates which are held parallel to each other by a separating means, said elastic retaining means selectively securable to said separating means. 